Comments on: Breaking: ARC Steps In To Save MARTA

By: lumpintheroad

lumpintheroad — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:54:02 +0000

From the “Do as we say, not as we do” file:

http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/freshloaf/2009/04/15/anti-tax-protestors-urged-to-um-ride-marta/

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 16:17:07 +0000

One passenger/one potential passenger at a time — that’s how you would “see” the catastrophe of a MARTA shutdown/slowdown. Pick any of the MARTA proposed shutdown/slowdown proposals you want, and you will see the effects. Someone who works night shifts and weekends would be denied public transportation, and might lose their employment because they can’t get to work, or “on time.” Someone who needs to see a doctor on a Friday might have to reschedule a critical appointment, which might make a bad situation worse. Someone who wants to attend classes and seminars might decide not to, because of the lack of dependable daily and evening transportation. Someone who can’t afford a car may decide to enter that nightmare of paperwork and expenses anyway, thus diminishing funds that are usually spent for other family needs. And the traffic jams would continue and increase all around the Atlanta region. “Call their bluff” seems like a callous response to the damage that could be done for Atlanta area residents both in the short-term and the long-term. State taxes and federal funds allotted to the state should be spent proportionately according to population, not by geographic regions that are much less populated.

By: George

George — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 11:25:47 +0000

MARTA threatens, and some group with Taxpayer funds (eventually) jumps.
It’s a tired old model, no?
I would really like to have seen the state (and associated agencies) call their bluff. At least for a couple of weeks. Then we’d really know if a sthutdown/slowdown would be as catastrophic as they say.

By: Brad Steel

Brad Steel — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 15:26:41 +0000

Hooray ARC! I hope their foresight is successful in overcoming the provincial ignorance and obstinance of our ineffective local and state representatives.

By: MJK

MJK — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:49:51 +0000

Preventatvie maintenance is considered a capital expenditure at the federal level but an operating expenditure at the local level. Thus, the preventative maintenance in the MARTA budget can be replaced with stimulus funding.

By: MJK

MJK — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:28:31 +0000

This is stimulus money that is ostensibly “highway” money. All of the transit funds have already been alocated. Even if they hadn’t been allocated by ARC in their 3/20/09 administrative modification they couldn’t have been used for operating anyway. This money comes from the suballocation of road money that is directly programmed by the Metropolitan Planning Organization (ARC). This pot of stimulus money is akin to the STP category that comes from FHWA but is very flexible in how it is spent.

By: Thomas Wheatley

Thomas Wheatley — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:25:31 +0000

An ARC spokesperson told me there are still a lot of issues to be examined. A full ARC board vote is expected in May. For the next few weeks, the spokesperson said, ARC and MARTA staff are going to examine the transit agency’s financial situation and see how “up to” $25 million can be used for operational purposes.

Buried deep in the stimulus language I’m sure it mentions if the funds can be used for operation-budget shortfalls. My gut tells me it’s not allowed. But again, that’s my gut.

By: Decatur Metro

Decatur Metro — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 17:03:57 +0000

See Steve…I was about to tell you that the source was good. Don’t non-credible sites deserve trust too?

I still looking for clarification about whether this is road transportation or mass transit stimulus money.